LONDON — A Royal Marine who dived on a live hand grenade to save his comrades in Afghanistan and escaped with minor wounds will be given Britain’s highest award for bravery, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
Lance Cpl. Matthew Croucher — a reservist — will receive the George Cross for his actions when leading a group of men through a Taliban compound in February.
Croucher stumbled on a tripwire in the dark and heard a live grenade fall on the ground near him. He realized there was no time to run and threw himself on top of it to protect his comrades from the blast.
“I thought, ‘I’ve set the bloody thing off and I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect the others,’” he said after the award was announced.
Croucher survived after his backpack and body armor absorbed most of the explosion.
The George Cross is as high a distinction as the better-known Victoria Cross, which can only be awarded for bravery during direct confrontation with the enemy.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
